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Tag: Maxence Lacroix

Liverpool should go for these five centre backs in January following Joel Matip’s injury setback

Following Joel Matip’s season-ending injury, Liverpool needs to have a strategy in place before the January transfer window opens.

Liverpool, who are presently leading the Premier League, will be looking to defend their crown and possibly win the competition outright. To defeat Manchester City and Arsenal and win the championship, they will obviously need to fill some holes in the team.

Liverpool needs to look to spend during the January transfer window on a top-notch centre defender. They cannot expect to play the second half of the season with just Joe Gomez, Virgil Van Dijk, and Ibrahima Konate as their only dependable central defenders because Joel Matip will be out for the remainder of the campaign due to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Furthermore, Liverpool cannot afford to abuse Konate and Gomez due to their questionable fitness records. In light of this, The Hard Tackle examines five defenders that Liverpool ought to try to sign during the next transfer window.

Goncalo Inacio

This 22-year-old Sporting CP defender has been linked to a move to the Premier League, and other teams including Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, and Real Madrid have also expressed interest in him.

The Portuguese international, whose contract with Sporting CP has a €60 million release clause, would be the perfect defensive addition for Liverpool. Both a centre defender and a left back can be used by the 22-year-old.

He is the kind of adaptable central defender that Liverpool needs, and if necessary, he can also play in place of Andrew Robertson. However, the Merseyside team’s task of defeating teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid will be difficult.

Jonathan Tah

The 27-year-old German international has established himself in the Bundesliga over the years, and Liverpool may find him to be a worthwhile addition. Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United are also monitoring him.

The 27-year-old could end up being a wise addition because he possesses the physicality needed to thrive in English football. But since Bayer Leverkusen is vying for the championship in their own league, it is unlikely that they will allow him to leave in January.

The German international is a cheap target because he won’t set you back a bomb. However, given Bayer Leverkusen’s place in the Bundesliga, Liverpool might have to wait until the end of the campaign to sign someone like him.

Since Tah is currently at the height of his profession, he will want to push himself to the limit. He would advance in his career and have the opportunity to show off his skills in the Premier League if he joined Liverpool.

Lucas Beraldo

The 20-year-old Brazilian defender is well-liked in his native country and has been connected to several Premier League teams. Players in the Brazilian Serie A have an easy time moving in January because the league’s seasons run the full calendar year.

Without a question, Beraldo is a gifted young player with a bright future ahead of him. However, he is an unproven alternative, and Liverpool need a Premier League player who can go in and immediately make an impact.

The Reds would be wise to get him in the long run, and he might even end up being a good deal. The Merseyside team ought to prioritise aiming for more reputable choices in European football, though.

Maxence Lacroix

Liverpool has been keeping an eye on the VfL Wolfsburg defender for a while now. The Reds have reportedly been watching the Frenchman this season because boss Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of him.

Given that Wolfsburg is positioned in the middle of the table, making a play for Lacroix in January might make sense. He will find it fascinating to have the chance to join the Premier League team, and he will probably be tempted. Both in the short and long terms, he might be Joel Matip’s perfect replacement.

Jean-Clair Todibo

In recent weeks, teams like Manchester United and Tottenham have been linked to the 23-year-old French international defender. For the French team OGC Nice, he has been exceptional, and the Premier League clubs have taken notice of his performances. He might be a good Matip substitute for Liverpool.

With coaching and experience, the former Barcelona defender should be able to perform well in the Premier League because of his technical and physical skills. It can be difficult to decline the chance to sign with a major Premier League team, and the player will probably be drawn to the prospect of playing at Anfield.

Playing with Konate will only increase Todibo’s prospects of becoming a regular starter for the French national team, which is something he will want to accomplish in the meanwhile. It could be challenging to usurp Virgil van Dijk, though.

It’s unclear who Liverpool ends up with, as all four defenders—aside from Inacio—may be available in the coming months at inexpensive costs. For most players, they are a desirable destination that also fits their style of play.

Lacroix, Todibo, Inacio, Tah, and Beraldo are all excellent with the ball at their feet, and their ability to distribute the ball from the back makes them a great substitute for Joel Matip, who was a fantastic with his passing from the back

December 12, 2023
The three-man Liverpool January signing list was made public.

Three possible additions to Liverpool’s roster have been shortlisted before the January transfer market opens, sources have informed Football Insider.

The Merseyside team’s primary aim is Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix. They are also keeping an eye on Sao Paulo defender Lucas Beraldo and Sporting Lisbon center-back Goncalo Inacio.

Following Joel Matip’s knee injury, Football Insider reported on Friday, December 8, that Liverpool will give priority to signing a new center-back in January.

Matip has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury, according to a statement the Merseyside club posted on their website on Wednesday.

Klopp is keen to add a new defender to his defensive lineup in January as the 32-year-old may miss months due to injury.

Liverpool is reportedly keeping an eye on Lacroix, 23, since Klopp is a huge fan of the French defender.

Despite his age, he has already made 113 appearances for Wolfsburg and, when available, has started every Bundesliga game in the 2023–2024 season.

Another defender that Liverpool’s recruitment squad is keeping an eye on is Inacio, a 22-year-old who has emerged as a crucial member of both Sporting and the Portugal national team.

This season, he has made 19 appearances for Sporting in all competitions, including all 12 league games.

At just 20 years old, Beraldo is the youngest possibility for Liverpool and the third name on the list.

With 24 appearances in the 2023 season, he established himself as a staple in Sao Paulo’s first squad after breaking through in 2022.

It’s believed that Sao Paulo will entertain bids for the youthful defender in January.

More news……

Hakan Calhanoglu is being pursued by West Ham United, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

Hakan Calhanoglu, 29, of Inter Milan, is a midfield player that Chelsea, Liverpool, and West Ham United would all love to have on their team.

A report from Calciomercato claims that West Ham United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all interested in hiring Hakan Calhanoglu. Since joining Inter Milan, the 29-year-old has been performing admirably, and his outstanding efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Prior to joining Inter Milan in the summer of 2021, Calhanoglu was a member of AC Milan. Since joining Inter, he has only become better. The club’s defensive midfielder has made appearances in 112 games and has helped contribute to 41 goals.

Over the years, the Turkish international has played every position on the pitch. In his early years, the 29-year-old playmaker was frequently spotted on the wings or up top, but at this point in his career, he likes to play as a holding midfielder or a central midfielder.

With more than three years remaining on his contract, he has been a vital member of Inter Milan’s first team in recent seasons. Nevertheless, he might have to leave them in the summer of next year as Premier League teams try to sign him.

Even though Liverpool added a lot of midfield players over the summer, their transformation is far from finished. With his expertise, Calhanoglu may be a wonderful match as a deep-lying playmaker. They need another defensive midfielder.

Chelsea may be concentrating on acquiring young athletes with enormous potential. To maintain order, they do require some experience among their ranks. Despite having a number of defensive midfielders already, they may still want to sign Calhanoglu because of his versatility in both attacking and centre midfield roles.

West Ham United, meanwhile, has long been a fan of the 29-year-old. They intended to sign him as Lucas Paquetà’s replacement throughout the summer. The Brazilian ultimately decided to remain at the London club, and the Inter midfielder’s singing was abandoned.

The Hammers will seek Calhanoglu, and an offer of about €50 million might get them there regardless of what happens with Paqueta next summer. Even though Inter would prefer to hang onto their star, their financial difficulties are still present. Also, since he was a free agent when he signed with them in the past, his departure might enable them to make a tidy profit.

December 10, 2023
Liverpool News update: Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix become targets following Joel Matip’s blow

Joel Matip, a defender for Liverpool, may have played his last game for the team after rupturing his ACL, and manager Jurgen Klopp may have signed a new centre back in January.

Even before it became official that Joel Matip had sustained a horrific injury, Liverpool had every reason to be happy as they approached the holiday season.

Matip, 32, may have played his final game for the Reds because his contract is set to expire in June 2024. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture during last Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 triumph against Fulham at home. Manager Jurgen Klopp is expected to evaluate his alternatives ahead of the January transfer window, keeping an eye out for a replacement center-back who can cover for starters Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, even if Liverpool will continue to try to win the Premier League without its trusty defender.

Here is a summary of the most recent Anfield news, along with a look at the targets Klopp will be assessing in the upcoming month.

Lacroix and Guehi emerge as targets

Joel Matip might be replaced by Maxence Lacroix of Wolfsburg and Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace, according to sources close to the club who spoke to Mirror Football. Both players are highly regarded by the Reds, but Lacroix is far more reachable for about £25 million.

The French defender, who is left-footed, is well-known in the Bundesliga for his quickness and aerial ability. Meanwhile, Guehi is well-known in the Premier League after joining Palace in 2021 and going on to represent England. Although the Eagles are unwilling to let go of the former Chelsea player in January, they might be convinced to do so the following summer when Matip becomes a free agent if he isn’t offered a new contract.

Klopp addresses concerns over Matip’s contract

Joel Matip has an ACL injury, but Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Liverpool would give him a new deal. Regarding the 32-year-old, Klopp stated prior to Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace: “I’m pretty sure the club will show their class, just how they should do.” Joel’s club has probably already informed him, as long as he is injured, of this.

“It’s up to Joel and me to decide how things proceed from there. That is a customary action. However, he does deserve all of our support, and he will receive it.” When asked whether that meant Matip would undoubtedly receive a new contract, the Reds manager—who signed the center-back, who was born in Germany, as a free agent in 2016—admired, “I would say so, but it’s not my decision in the end.” I am unable to sign this document.”

Mac Allister offers positive injury update

After taking two knocks against Sheffield United on Wednesday, Alexis Mac Allister has allayed concerns that he may need to miss some time. After just five minutes at Bramall Lane, the Argentine midfielder suffered an ankle injury, but he continued to play for the majority of the 2-0 victory.

Just before the hour, Mac Allister, 24, took another hit and was rendered incapacitated. Thankfully, the former Brighton player has posted a nice update on social media for Reds fans. “Everything is alright. I’ll heal quickly, only few stitches,” Mac Allister wrote. “We continue. Liverpool, hurry up.”

More news……

Liverpool ready to make tremendous move for transfer of £45m midfielder

According to reports, Liverpool is going to put up a big fight to sign Nice midfield player Khephren Thuram, in a deal that might end up costing up to £45 million.

In an attempt to make multiple midfield changes, the Reds linked themselves with the Frenchman multiple times during the summer transfer window. However, a deal never materialised, as they signed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch to replace departing stars like Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Nevertheless, Thuram is already being linked to Liverpool once more as Tutto Juve designates the Merseyside giants as significant participants in this trade drama.

They speculate that LFC might attempt to buy the 22-year-old for about £45 million. It will be intriguing to watch if they decide to prioritise adding yet another midfield player for January.

Thuram’s pursuers are Juventus and Inter Milan, but according to the source, Liverpool is now in the lead in the hunt for his signature.

Thuram appears to have a bright future as a player, so it will be interesting to see where he chooses to go for his next move. It would be great to see him play in the Premier League soon, though.

December 9, 2023